Therapeutic vapor-lamp appliance



F. F. BURDICK AND F. A. ANDERSON.

THERAPEUTIC VAPOR LAMP APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. 1920.

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F. F. BURDICK AND F. A. ANDERSON.

THERAPEUTIC VAPOR LAMP APPLIANCE. APPLICATION FILED APR'.I5.1920.

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FRED F. BUR/DICK AND FRITZ ARTHUR ANDERSON, OF MILTON, WISCONSIN.

THERAPEUTIC VAPOR-LAMP APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 3, 1922.

Application filed April 15, 1920. Serial No. 374,139.

To ailaohom it may concern:

8 it known that we. FRED F. BURDICK and FRITZ A. ANDERSON, citizens ofthe mted States of America, and residents of Milton, county of Rock, andState of Visconsin. have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTherapeutic Vapor- Lamp Appliances, of which the following 1s aspecification.

This invention relates to radio-therapeutic appliances. The main objectsof the invention are to provide an improved form of lamp support andcasin to provide an improved form of controlling means for the raygenerator or lamp proper, adapted espeorally for mercury vapor lamps; toprovide an improved method and means for adjustmg the casing. adapted tofacilitate better and more eff cient control and direction of the rays:to provide for effective ventilation and cooling of the device,especially where large and powerful lamps are to be used; to provide acasing of jointed sectional form adapted for variable adjustment withready means for operation and control. and with relative slidingmovement of the wall mem bers past one another for adjusting theaperture of the ray opening; to provide in the casing adjustable meansfor collecting and reflecting the otherwise ineffective rays anddirecting them forward in a common beam with the direct rays; to providemanual means of improved form adapted for ready operation to adjust theray aperture, the reflector. and the position of the generatorrespectivelyfrom outside the casing; to provide in connection with saidcasing an improved form of attachment, for use when desired. adapted forconcentrating and conducting the rays. as through a tubular passagewayfor a considerable distance from the mam body of the casing. directly tothe body or part to be treated; to provide for universal movement orswinging of the casing to project the rays in any direction re quired;and to provide against hot mercury falling on the patient in case oflamp breakage while in use.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings. in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal axial sectionthrough the casing, positioned as in Fig. 2 for projecting rayshorizontally, and showing the apparatus contained therein.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device with a tubular ray conductingattachment in place, and with the casing tilted downward.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device as shown in Fig. 5.

* Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the device as a whole, with theshutters drawn apart to provide a horizontally facing aperture, asviewed from the left of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view at 66 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view at 7-7 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a section at 8-8 on Fig. 3, showing a reducing diaphragm oriris at the outer end of the tube.

Fig. 9 is a plan of the iris diaphragm of Fi 8.

Tn the construction shown in the drawings the ray generating unit orlamp 1 is mounted in a casing 2, which in turn is supported by an arm orbracket 3, which bracket is normally secured to an adjustable support 4.preferably mounted slidably on an upright frame 5 or the like, as shownin Fig. 4.

The casing 2. as a whole, when closed is cylindrical in shape withclosed ends 6 and 6 connected rigidly by a half cylindrical wall memberT and a pair of quadrant members 8 in the form of arcuate shutters,having segmental ends 9 mounted to swing concentrically about the mainaxis of the easing on pivots 10 and 10 carried by the bracket 3.

The mercury vapor lamp 1 is carried directly by a tiltably moimted frame11 pivotally supported at 12 on the U-shaped axially mounted bracket 13,and said frame is provided with tilting means for starting the lamp, ashereinafter described.

One end of bracket 13 is ring-shaped and receives the inner end of thepivot 10 in tight-fitting relation and is rigidly fastened thereto. asby means of a set screw 14:. The other end of said bracket is providedwith an integrally formed barrel member 15 pro ecting axially outwardinto the hollow pivot 10 to which it is turnably related.

The pivot 10 is cup-shaped with a knob or handle 16 secured to its outerend and with an outwardly disposed radial flange 17 at its inner end towhich the casing wall 6, reinforced at this point by ring 6", is securedrigidly as by means of screws 18. A

stop ring 19 is provided on said pivot and 1 secured thereto by saidscrew 20, between which ring and the flange 17 is disposed the axiallydisposed body .part or bar 22 slidable lengthwise in the handle 16 andin the adjacent bracket end 15 in non-turning relation to the handle 16and pivot 10, being rectangular in section to fit the correspond withbracket 13 as above indicated. Said ingly shaped hole 23 in said pivot.The inner end of said bar fits turnably relative to the hollow brackethead 15, but is normally prevented from turning therein by means of theT-lock cross-head 24 fixed to the shank 22', said cross-head havinginwardly turned tips 24 to engage the circularly disposed series ofdepressions 25 in the bracket part 15.

The helical compression spring 26 is mounted in the chamber 27, providedby the hollow head 15 and pivot 10 and is disposed to bear at one endagainst the inner endwall of said chamber and at the opposite endagainst a shoulder 28 on the middle part of said bar 22' whereby thelock is urged outward to hold the T members in its efiective non-turningposition, though the locking tips 24 may be released from bracket 13 byinward pressure of the hand on the handle 29 on the outward tip of saidbar 22.

The lock 22 is rovided with a centering pin 30 integral with bar 22 andprojecting through the part 24 and into the centrally apertured bearingcap 31 fixed on the inner end of the bracket head 15. I

The pivot 10 .at the opposite end of bracket 13 comprises a hollowmetallic casing 32 with a core 33 preferably of insulating material, thecasing 32 being held rigid pivot 10' is perforated endwise and containsa manually operable crank-shaft 34 extending therethrough and journaledtherein;

41 in said pivot and thence to-a pair of in- I sulated terminals 42 and43 respectively, fixed on the bracket 13. The electrical con tacts onthe ends of the lamp 1 are connected 1 to said terminals by means offlexible bead insulated conductors 44 and 45 respectively.

In order that the lamp 1 may be suitably The frame 11 is substantiallyU-shaped,-

with detachable arms '47. and 47 adapted for the particular form of lampor tube used. The outer ends of the arms are apertured to receive thecorresponding ends of the vapor tube. Arm 47 has a perforation 48-andthe otherarm 47 has a socket 49 providedwith a detachable fastening 50to grip the upturned tip of the mercury holding lower end of the tube.

In order to increase the efiiciency of the lamp and help directthe raysin the desired direction, a reflector 51 is mounted centrally on thebracket 13 in' adjustable circularrelation to the lamp. The reflector isof arcuate shape and of semi-cylindrical character. It

is carried directly by an outer concentric;

member 52 spaced somewhat therefrom, ex-

cept at the edges where it is-held by fastenings 52'. Said member 52 isprovided with a slot 52" extending circumferentially to receive theheaded end of a supporting lug 53, mounted on the rigid upstanding arm54, which in turn is secured by screws 55 to the bracket 13. Saidreflector is thus adapted to be oscillated through a vertical angle ofnearly 180, whereby it may be manually adjusted from time totime tothrow the rays in whatever direction may be required, as for instance,upward, horizontally or downward.

The main casin segment or half cylinder 7 is of double wa led characterand is provided with a central slot or Ventilating aperture 56 extendingfrom end to end. On each side of the draft vent 56 the casing comprisesan outer wall 57 and an inner wall 58 with an air space 59 between. Th5outer wall 57 is provided with a circumferential slot 60 to receive anadjustable fastening 61 for the shutters 8, as hereinafter described.

Each casing quadrant or shutter 8 is also of double wall constructionwith an'air space 62 between the outer wall 63 and the inner wall 64.Said outer wall is provided with a series of ventilation apertures 65adjacent to its edge 66 which is nearest the main light aperture 67 when,the shutters are opened. The inner wall 64 is also provided with aseries of apertures 68 disposed remotely from said edge 66 so that inoperation a draft passage is provided extendlng inward through theapertures 65, through the chamber 62 and thence through apertures 68into the open interior of the casing past the lamp 1 and out at the slot56.

Each shutter 8 is provided preferably near its center with apertures 69adapted, for instance, to facilitate inspecting the lamp when in use.Each aperture 69 is provided with a short radially disposed sleeve ortube 70 held in place by a flange T1 at its inner end. The outer end ofsaid tube may be provided with a lens or ray filter 72 secured in placeby an inwardly flanged ring 73, as shown at the top of Fig. 2. Ifdesired, the opposite tubular aperture may be provided simply with aclosed cup 74, as shown in the; lower side of Fig. 2, or, if desired, atubular extension 75 may be substituted in place of the cup. asillustrated in Fig. 8. It is to be understood that the several cups ortubular extensions are provided with a readily detachable connection orfastening, as for instance, a bayonet notch 67 illustrated in Figs. 3and 8. If desired, arestricted opening may be provided at the outer endof tube T5 as by means of an interchangeable washerlike member or iris77. It is to be understood also that if desired, a concentrating lensmay be used in place of said member 77 and held in substantially thesame manner as shown at the top of Fig. 2. The members T2 and 7% arereadily attachable and removable interchangeably by means of fastenings76, as for instance bayonet catches.

In order to lock the shutters positively in the desired positionrespectively, relative to the main casing T. the said lock 61 isprovided with outwardly turned teeth 78 on the cross-head T9 of the'lockplunger 80. The outer end of said plunger is provided with a handle 81to receive the pressure of the hand for forcing the lock inward againstthe force of the compression spring 82 to release said teeth-from thenotches 88, which are disposed in the outer casing wall 57 adjacent tothe slot 60. The guide-block 8i is fixed on the outer side of theshutter adjacent to its edge 85 to support the outer part of lock 61 andhouse the spring 82, and to serve also as a handle for oscillating theshutter.

It is to be understood that the main supporting bracket 3. though hereshown as mounted horizontally, may be arranged vertically so as to swingfreely from above, if desired. though in any case the bracket 13 whichis rigid therewith is preferably arranged to be held in a horizontalposition, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to provide efliciently for an intense diffused light theinterior walls of the casing as a whole are coated with a thin vitreouswhite enamel which is a non-absorbent for therapeutic rays. The activesurface of the reflector 51 is likewise glazed or enameled. Safetyagainst burning the patient by hot mercury in case of lamp breakage isassured by normally inclining the appliance so that the lower shutter isalways disposed as a receptacle to catch any falling mercury. In thisconnection see Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The operation of the device is as follows Referring first to Figs. 3 and4, the casing is brought to the proper height and swung horizontally tothe proper position relative to the patient as provided for by thecounterweight 86 and cord 8? connecting same to the rotatably mountedsleeve 4 carried by the hollow post 5. justed to throw the light in thedirection required. The main casing member is then oscillated by duemanipulation of the handle l6 and lock 22 to bring the main ray aperture67 to the required position. The amplitude of the opening 67 is thenadjusted by manipulating the handles 84 and latch means 6l,'whereby theshutters are adjusted. If only a small beam of rays is required. as forlimited local treatments, the

shutters may be entirely closed and the casing swung to such a positionthat one of the apertures 69 or a tube 75 may be used. The ray generatoror lamp is then started by twisting or tilting the handle 35, whichoperates to lift the large end of the lamp sufficiently to cause themercury to flow momentarily to the opposite end and so start the arc.whereupon it returns by. gravity to its normal position upon releasingthe handle The operation of the lamp may be observed through the coloredglass window 72. The strength of the rays at any time may be'ascertained sufliciently for all practical purposes, after a littleexperience. by holding the hand for a brief period in the direct path ofthe rays and then noting the slight burning odor which is readilyperceptible, upon raising the hand to th nose. the degree of such odorbeing a measure of the effectiveness of the lamp.

Although but one Specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described. it will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted-without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A radio-therapeutic device adapted for generating and applying lighttherapy rays, comprising a supporting bracket. an open-sided casingmember mounted pivotally thereon, a lamp also mounted on said bracketwithin saidcasing member but independent mechanically of the latter,clo- The reflector 51 is adsure means operatively related to said memberadapted for adjusting the degree of opening, and means to variablyadjust the relative position of said member and bracket, said bracketincluding a pair of arms having pivotal bearings disposed in horizontalalinement, and said casing memher and closure means as a whole being ofcylindrical shape and mounted to turn on its main axis.

2. A radio-therapeutic device comprising a casing provided with closedends and a cylindrical wall of sectional character including a main wallpart and arcuate shutters movable concentrically therewith to provide anadjustable ray aperture, and a ray generating unit mounted axially insaid casing.

3. A radio-therapeutic appliance comprising a mercury vapor lamp, acasing therefor having a ray aperture. and a support \vhereon saidcasing and lamp are independently mounted, said casing being tiltableto' direct the rays as may be required and said lamp being tiltable forstarting, said casing also having manually adjustable means for settingthe position of the casing relative to said support, and said lamphaving a flexibly connected handle extending through said casing fortilting the lamp.

4. A radio-therapeutic device comprising a vapor lamp, a casing thereforhaving a limited ray aperture, a reflector arranged to deflect the raysthrough said aperture, and a tubular ray conduit having a vitreouslining adapted for insertion into a speculum to apply the rays directlyto an interior part of the anatomy to be treated.

5. A radio-therapeutic device comprising a cylindrical casing, a supportwhereon saidcasing is rotatably mounted on its mam axis and a lamp alsomounted on said support independently of said casing though containedtherein, said casin including a main body part of semi-cylin rical shapeand a pair of quadrant shutters adapted to more or less close the openside of said main part, each of said casing members being provided withventilating means extending lengthwise along a medial line thereof.

6. An air cooled universal control therapy lamp comprising incombination a tiltably mounted and adjustably apertured casing, a quartzbulb mercury-arc ray generator independently tiltable therein forstarting, and an adjustable reflector therefor, said casing having draftapertures to facilitate and insure adequate ventilation and cooling ofthe generator. 7. A therapy lamp casingof substantially cylindricalshape provided with a side opening and an adjustable axially mountedconcentric shutter to open or. close said opening, said shutter beingarranged to pass over the adjacent casing wall in opening and beingprovided With a radially acting manual latch to engage the casing forsecuring the shutter in any desired position.

8. A therapy lamp casing of substantially cylindrical shape providedwith a side opening and an adjustable axially mounted concentric shutterto open or close said opening, said shutter being arranged to pass iover the adjacent casing wall in opening and being provided with aradially acting plunger latch having an inner cross-head with anoutwardly turned catch part, and said casing having an 'arcuate' slot toreceive said latch, and yielding means urging said latch outwardly toengage said casing, the latter being formed and adapted to be engagedpositively by said catch part. Signed at Chicago this 7th day of April,19 0.

FRED r. BURDICK, FRITZ ARTHUR ANDERSON.

